Tura, Oct 24: All doesn’t seem to be well in the Congress camp as was visible when its candidate Jingjang M. Marak came to file the nomination papers for the Gambegre bye-election on Thursday. There was one major figure missing from the important event –Tura MP Saleng A. Sangma. To many it may seem like absence of just one man doesn’t reflect much but if that man is Saleng A. Sangma, a four time MLA from the constituency that is going to polls, it speaks a lot!

Jingjang has always been considered as being very close to Saleng, being called a ‘close confidante’ – a highly stylized word to show their closeness. So where was Saleng when his good friend took such a large stride into the political arena?

If rumours are to be believed, Saleng was in the constituency just a couple of days ago, canvassing for this close friend. But his sudden absence has raised a lot of questions. Is everything well in the Congress camp or is it seeing another rebellion right at the door of yet another election.

Who can forget the case of the grand old party being left with no MLAs just ahead of the 2023 assembly elections in the State. As recently as August this year, it was left with just 1 MLA in the 60 member Meghalaya Legislative Assembly after 3 of its MLAs joined ruling NPP and Saleng got elected as a Lok Sabha MP.

Interestingly, former Minister and Congress heavyweight Deborah C. Marak was at the forefront of the Congress group on Thursday accompanying Jingjang as he walked into the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Tura to file his nomination papers.

If rumours are to be believed, all is not well between Saleng and Jinjiang. The reasons are many, which includes the voice of the party workers and a certain arrangement that Saleng seeks to make through Jingjang, as well as the expected result of this bye-election.

Reports indicate that Saleng threw his weight behind Jingjang for the Congress party nomination, and even put his foot down when indications were high that former Minister and Congress heavyweight Deborah C Marak wanted to contest from this West Garo Hills seat.

Not many months ago, Saleng had won by a landslide in the Tura parliamentary polls. Saleng has won the seat four times in a row and seen as being very strong. So, many would guess that anyone he nominates would have his backing and his winning is almost a certainty.

But this has also given rise to a certain kind of arrangement, which hasn’t gone down well with the Congress nominee, which is of ‘Bondok’. ‘Bondok’ in Garo means ‘temporary arrangement’, and Jingjang is being seen as a ‘Bondok’ by Saleng to manage the constituency while he is away in New Delhi to see to matters in Lok Sabha. This setting seems to have angered Jingjang and is believed to be one of the reasons for the growing difference between the two close friends.

However, another observer went a step ahead by stating that Saleng had read the writing on the wall that this by-poll was a futile exercise for the Congress.

Since it is a by-poll, the voters would have to look for an alternative. The Gambegre electorate know that the Congress is in the Opposition at the Centre and the State. They feel that by going with the Congress nominee, they would stand to lose. Maybe the signs of this are telling and Saleng knows better after having been their representative for four terms.

While Saleng has been seen very active all these days, the sudden silence and disappearance of Saleng and missing from Thursday’s nomination, only goes to tell that all in not well in the Congress camp.

Although less likely, Saleng’s absence might be due to personal reasons, which have not been publicly disclosed.

Reportedly, Jingjang’s nomination was not taken well by a large number of Congress leaders and supporters. Many of the Congress leaders have indicated that they would not seek votes for Jingjang. This has led to confusion in the Congress camp after Saleng ignored local leaders and went ahead to name Jingjang.

Jingjang has reportedly shown his displeasure after Saleng failed to turn up during his nomination. Reports indicate that Jingjang felt that he was given the cold shoulder by the former Gambegre legislator after having thrown him inside the electoral ring.

Insecurity is reigning supreme in the Congress camp after reports surface that the electorate in Gambegre want to give the NPP a chance and reap in development benefits.

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